Holder for beverage can



Dec. 19, 1961 w. M. PRENTICE 3,013,691

HOLDER FOR BEVERAGE CAN Filed June 20, 1960 4 Z V m //Z 5 s .i //C 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1386- 1961 w. M. PRENTICE HOLDER FOR BEVERAGE CAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1960 C A U a y y r V W W A n W i M d m 9 3 .J f C V I, E E L I .llv! 1\ Lil I 1 1 I I 1 1 I 4 I, 11/ a Q I 0 24 rd 0\ INVENTOR. W/AL/AM M. aw/ BY FIGS.

United States Patent G 3,013,691 HOLDER FOR BEVERAGE CAN William M. Prentice, Box 197, RED. 4, Wapowog Road, East Hampton, Conn. Filed June 20, 1960, Ser. No. 37,208 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-415) This invention relates to an improved holder for a can containing a beverage, and is particularly intended for the purpose of providing a cup-like article having a handle which is adapted to hold a can securely and releasably, while permitting the beverage to be drunk directly from the can.

In many instances, people have preferred to drink beverages directly from a can, rather than pour the contents of the can into a cup, glass Or other container. On the other hand, the advantages of a handled cup for drinking purposes are well known.

An important object of the invention is to provide a handled holder for a beverage can or the like, which is adapted to hold the can securely and yet releasably, so as to permit the user to drink directly from the can while having the advantages of a handle for holding the combined holder and can.

It will be understood that the invention has other applications, in that the can which is held by the holder may contain other commodities besides beverages.

Another object of this invention is to provide a holder for a beverage can or the like which may be readily fabricated from plastic or other suitable material, which has a minimum number of parts and which is economical to manufacture, durable and easy to use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sanitary holder of the above type which will hold the beverage can in such a way that the user can drink from the can without his face coming into contact with the holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder of the above type which will combine with the can to form an insulation medium surrounding the can, thereby making it possible, for example, for the chilled contents of the can to remain cool for a longer period of time than if the can were not in the holder.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a section on line 11 of FIG. 2, showing the holder and a can received by said holder;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the empty holder;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the holder, partly in section; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the holder, partly in elevation; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, drawn to enlarged scale, showing a preferred form of holder which is adapted to provide a seal against the lower head of the can.

Holder 10, as shown in the drawing, may be made of any suitable material, such as plastic, so as to be generally rigid. Holder is shown as molded in one piece, but it will be apparent that the invention is not so limited.

Holder 10 comprises base 11, peripheral wall 12 and handle 13. Holder 10 is adapted to receive a can within peripheral wall 12 and resting upon base 11. Said can 30 may contain a beverage or any other desired commodity.

Can 30 is of cylindrical shape and of greater height than wall 12. Can 30 has respective end beads 31 of increased diameter. While said end beads 31 may be formed in any desired way, the invention has particular ice application to use in conjunction with conventional cans having the usual end beads of enlarged diameter.

Base 11 is preferably annular in shape and has an external diameter which is substantially greater than the diameter of bead 31, and a central opening 11a of diameter which is less than the diameter of bead 31. Optionally and preferably, an annular disc 14 is fixed to the underside of base 11, the central opening of disc 11 having the same diameter as opening 111:. Said disc 14 may be made of foam material or any other suitable material which pre vents a table from being scratched and which has the properties of a coaster to prevent moisture from damaging the table.

Optionally and preferably, said base 11 has an annular recess 11b in the upper surface thereof. The external diameter of recess 11b is somewhat greater than the diameter of head 31. The internal diameter of recess 11b is the same as the diameter of opening 11a. The height of recess 11b is preferably substantially one half the height of bead 31. Outwardly of recess 11b, the peripheral surface of base 11 is optionally curved as shown by the reference numeral 110.

Peripheral wall 12 is generally cylindrical in shape. Handle 13 has an upper horizontal arm 13a which connects with the top rear of wall 12 and extends longitudinally rearwardly thereof. The rear end of arm 13a conmeets with a leg 13b which extends downwardly and at its lower end is inclined toward and connects with the upper rear of base 11 at a junction area designated by the reference numeral 15. Said junction area 15 also connects with the lower rear of peripheral wall 12, with the lower end of wall 12 being otherwise spaced above the upper face of base 11. In the form shown in FIG. 5, the height of bead 31 is preferably approximately equal to the distance between the lower edge 5 of Wall 12 and the bottom 4 of recess 11b, and accordingly approximately twice the distance between the lower edge 5 of wall 12 and the top of base 11.

Said Wall 12 is divided by a vertical slit 120, which extends the entire height thereof, into two wall portions 12a which are identical and which are each substantially semicylindrical. Said slit 12c is located at the front of the holder and is diametrically opposed to the location of handle 13, as is clearly shown in FIG. 2.

Said wall portions 12a are somewhat flexible and resilient so that they may be spread to widen the slit 12 under conditions to be described below. Ordinarily, however, the adjacent vertical edges of the wall portions 12a abut each other at slit 12c.

Holder 10 is provided with a pair of ribs 16 on each wall portion 12a. Said ribs 16 are preferably equally spaced around the periphery of wall 12, there being four ribs 16 in all. The invention is not limited to this number of ribs. Each said rib extends vertically the entire height of wall 12 and extends radially inwardly from the inner face of wall 12. Each said rib is preferably generally rectangular in cross section. In the form'shown. in FIG. 5, the distance between the inner 'face 16c of rib 16 and the inner surface of wall 12 (indicated by broken line 3 in FIG. 5) is approximately equal to the radial dimension of bead 31, whihc may be approximately inch.

Each said rib 16 hasa downwardly inwardly inclined upper surface 16a and an upwardly inwardly inclined lower surface 16b. Said surfaces 16a and 16b are optionally and preferably flat.

The inner faces 16c of ribs 16 are on an imaginary cylindrical surface, the diameter of which is less than the diameter of bead 31, so as to permit spreading of wall portions 12a when bead 31 is located between ribs 16. Also, in the form shown in FIG. 5, the diameter of this imaginary cylinder is approximately the same as the diameter of the main portion of the peripheral wall of can 30, to permit ribs 16 to abut the peripheral wall of can 30 frictionally, and with substanital closing of slit 12c, when can 30 is extended through holder wall 12 with bead 31 clear of ribs 16.

In the use of the holder, with the holder assumed to be held in normal upright position, can 30 is held above the holder and in registration therewith and is moved downwardly with relation to the holder. The lower bead 31 strikes the upper cam surfaces 16a of ribs 16, and causes the two wall sections 12:: to be flexed away from each other, widening slit 12c, until bead 31 moves below the cam surfaces 16a and against the main inner surfaces of ribs 16. While the can continues to be lowered, wall sections 12a remain outwardly flexed.

Can 30 is lowered until bead 31 is located below the level of wall 12 and is seated against the lower face 4- of recess 11b of base 11. In this position, the inner faces 16c of ribs 16 are in frictional abutment with the outer periphery of can 30, with wall sections 12a approximately in their normal positions and with slit 12c approximately closed. Preferably, the proximate vertical edges of wall sections 12a are slightly spaced, so that wall sections 12a are under slight tension.

In the form shown in FIG. 5, the inner surface of wall 12 frictionally abuts lower bead 31 of the seated can, approximately at the upper outer edge of bead 31.

Preferably, in the seated position of the can within the holder, the upper portion of can 3% projects above the upper edge of wall 12. It will be appreciated that if can 30 contains a beverage, by way of example, the usual hole or holes may be formed in the upper end of the can and the contents of the can may be consumed while holding the holder by means of handle 13, and without the face touching the holder.

When can 30 is seated within holder 10, a space is defined bounded by each pair of circumferentially successive ribs, the peripheral wall of can 30, and bottom bead 31. This space is substantially closed, with the exception of the slight gap at slit 12c between two ribs 16 and except at the top, and accordingly there is very little air circulation in the space. Can 30, therefore, is surrounded by four dead air spaces, which act as heat insulation spaces, retarding warming of the contents of the can (assuming initial chilling thereof).

Can 30 may be withdrawn from holder by raising can 30 with respect to base 11. Force may be exerted on the bottom of can 30, through opening 11a, to aid in ejecting can 30 from holder 10. Bottom head 30 strikes rib cam surfaces 16b and flexes ribs 16 and wall portions 12 outwardly, so that bead 30 can slide between inner rib surfaces 16c. Upon complete withdrawal of the can, wall portions 12a return to their normal position.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, and have indicated various changes, omissions and additions which may be made therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made in the invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A combination can and insulating holder therefor, said can having a cylindrical main peripheral wall and end beads of increased diameter, said holder comprising a base, a generally cylindrical holder peripheral wall, means mounting said holder peripheral wall above said base in upstanding relationship thereto, the lower end of said holder peripheral wall being spaced from said base, said base having a seat for reception of an end of said can, the distance between the lower end of said holder peripheral wall and said seat being approximately equal to the thickness of said end bead, said holder peripheral wall having a slit extending the entire length thereof to divide said holder peripheral wall into a pair of wall portions, the proximate upstanding edges of said wall portions normally substantially abutting each other, said wall portions having ribs on the inner faces thereof, said ribs extending the entire length of said holder peripheral wall, the diameter of the space between the inner surfaces of said ribs being normally less than the diameter of said bead, and substantially equal to the diameter of said can peripheral wall, said can being adapted to be moved axially through said holder peripheral wall in either direction, said wall portions being adapted to be spread by the entrance of said bead between said ribs and to tend to return to normal condition when said bead leaves said ribs, whereby said can may be releasably mounted in said holder with said bead resting upon said seat, said holder being of height such that the upper can bead is then above said holder peripheral wall, said ribs then frictionally abutting said can peripheral wall, said holder peripheral wall then abutting said bead, whereby to define insulating dead air spaces respectively bounded by two ribs, said bead, said can peripheral wall and said holder peripheral wall.

2. A combination can and insulating holder therefor, said can having a cylindrical main peripheral wall and end beads of increased diameter, said holder comprising a base, a generally cylindrical holder peripheral wall, means mounting said holder peripheral wall above said base in upstanding relationship thereto, the lower end of said holder peripheral wall being spaced from said base, said base having a seat, the distance between said seat and the lower end of said holder peripheral wall being approximately equal to the thickness of said bead, said holder peripheral wall having a slit extending the entire length thereof to divide said holder peripheral wall into a pair of wall portions, the connection of said wall portions being somewhat flexible and resilient, said Wall portions normally substantially abutting each other at said slit but being adapted to be flexed away from each other to enlarge said slit, said wall portions having ribs on the inner faces thereof, said ribs extending the entire length of said holder peripheral wall, said can being adapted to be releasably assembled with said holder by spreading said wall portions and with one of said end beads in said seat, the other end bead being spaced above the top of said holder peripheral wall, said ribs frictionally abutting the periphery of said can, said Wall portions being approximately in their normal position relative to each other, the lower end of said holder peripheral wall frictionally abutting said bead, whereby to define a plurality of dead air spaces each between successive ribs and also bounded by said can peripheral wall and by said holder peripheral wall and on the bottom of said bead.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 207,138 Shirley Aug. 20, 1878 608,590 Freund Aug. 9, 1898 1,363,616 Reddie Dec. 28, 1920 2,122,628 Tracy July 5, 1938 2,784,578 Southwick Mar. 12, 1957 

